Wide frame folding easel



y 1963 D. c. KILLEN 3,095,666

WIDE FRAME FOLDING EASEL Filed Oct. 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I2 79 INVENTOR. 63 DUNCAN C. 'K/LLf/V E l ".z/ gzfl July 2, 1963 D. c. KILLEN 3,095,655

WIDE FRAME FOLDING EASEL Filed Oct. 5. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DUNCAN C. K/LLf/V Ella--5- WdW ATTORNEYS July 2, 1963 D. c. KILLEN 3,095,666

' WIDE FRAME FOLDING EASEL I Filed on. 5, 1961 3'Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. DUNCAN C. K/LLEN A T TORNE Y5 3,095,665 Patented July 2, 1963 ..3,ti95,666 WIBE FRAME FGLDING EASEL Duncan C. Kiilen, 2521 Durant Ave., Berkeley, Calif.

' Filed st. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,613

12 Claims. (Cl. 45-129) This invention relates to improvements in a wide frame folding easel and more particularly to foldable easels of the type used by artists to support canvas-covered stretcher frames and the like, which provide the working surface upon which the artist draws or paints.

Previous easels generally support the stretcher frame on a narrow ledge or shelf and the partially completed picture is subject to being dislodged and damaged. Devices heretofore provided for clamping the stretcher frame to the easel, have been inadequate for the purpose, or have unduly interfered with the application of the paint or other medium to the canvas. Moreover, the earlier easels are shaky, particularly when used on uneven surfaces, and this can often create technical difficulties for the artist.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 84,309 filed January 26, 1961 from which this application is a continuation-in-part, the foregoing disadvantages areovercome and there is provided an ideal support for all types of objects upon which pictures are drawn. The stretcher frame or other object is held securely in place in a manner permitting the artist to freely extend his brush strokes beyond the edges of the canvas so as not to interfere with his painting technique.

Although the structure of my co-pending application is eminently satisfactory for the purpose, it has been found that when the canvas worked on is very wide, pressure exerted against the painting surface near the side edge will tend to twist the stretcher frame from between the clamp members. Thus the present invention provides means acting in combination with the holding means described in my earlier application whereby the stretcher frame or other object is held securely in place for very large pieces of work. In fact, there is also provided additional means for holding extraordinarily large pieces of work in one of the embodiments of this invention.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a folding easel which will securely clamp and solidly support canvas-covered stretcher frames and the-like in any position desired by the artist.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easel of the character described in which the clamping means extends laterally over a considerable distance so as to insure that pressure against the working surface of the picture will not swing the picture or dislodge it from the clamping means, and means are provided for holding extra large work pieces securely in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide an easel of the character described in which the painting surface is completely free and the clamping means does not interfere with the edges thereof so as to permit the artist to paint freely over such edges.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an artists easel which will sit solidly on uneven surfaces such as warped floors or on the ground.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an artists easel of the' character described in: which the picture may be oriented or tilted to any desired position with respect" to the horizon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable easel of the character described which is solid, sturdy and trouble-free in operation, the structure being designed to fold compactly when not in use and bein United States Patent 2 ing adapted for rapid mass production from inexpensive materials.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for tilting the work to an inclined position with the face of the work pointing somewhat downwardly to eliminate glare or any other unwanted effect, together with means for firmly supporting the easel while the work is so held.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the specification progresses, and the new and useful features of my wide frame folding easel will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a folding easel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2, a top view of the easel of FIGURE 1 in which the clamping devices are removed;

FIGURE 3, a partial sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4, a partial sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 4 4 of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 5, a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 55 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6, a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention containing means for holding extraordinarily lange pieces of work;

FIGURE 7, a partial top view of the easel of FIGURE 6 showing particularly the means for holding extraordinarily large pieces of work;

FIGURE '8, a partial back view of the corner of the easel of FIGURE 6 showing an alternate form of the same;

FIGURE 9, a perspective view of still another embodiment of this invention in which means are provided for giving additional support for the easel whereby work may be held in a forwardly inclined position; and

FIGURE 10, a partial cross-sectional view of the base of the easel shown in FIGURE 9, taken substantially on the plane of line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that my folding easel consists basically of a generally upright standard 11 having a flat front face 12 formed with a vertically extending slot 13, a pair of elongated clamping devices 14 and extending laterally across front face =12, and locking means 17 and 18 on devices 14 and 16, respectively, the means 17 and 18 being engageable with slot 13 and formed for adjustably securing the clamping devices to the standard 11 in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges 19 and 21, respectively, of a canvascovered stretcher frame 22.

As here shown, the clamping devices 14 and 16 are similar in construction and, as may best be seen in FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5, each includes an elongated bar 23 mounted on the standard 11 and extending laterally across the flat front face 12.

The bars 23 are of triangular cross section with the base of the triangle providing a flat, face 24 in sliding contact with the front face 12 of the standard.

Carried on the bars 23 are elongated clamping members 26 of L-sli'aped cross-section. The confronting edges 27 of the members 26 are adapted for clamping engagement against the top and bottom sides 19 and 21 of the stretcher frame 22 upon movement of the clamping members 26 toward each other.

The clamping members 26 are urged toward each other by bolt means 28. Included in each of the means 28 is a bolt member 29 extending perpendicularly from the outer faces 31 of the bars 23 through the clamping members 26. Thumbscrews 32 are threaded on bolt members 29 so that tightening down of the thumbscrews will tend to displace the clamping members 26 toward each other.

Locking means is also provided for adjustably securing the clamping devices 14 and 16 at the proper vertical spacing to accommodate the frame 22 intended to be clamped to the easel. This means includes bolt members 33 secured to and extending perpendicularly from the flat faces 24 of the bars 23 through the slot 13 in the standard 11. Thumbscrews 34 are threaded on the bolt members 33 and may be tightened down to clamp the bars 23 to the standard at the desired positions therealong.

The easel of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable material but, in order to reduce fabrication and material costs, I prefer to utilize wood secured together by metal fasteners and brackets. Thus, as shown in my co-pending application, the standard 11 may conveniently comprise a wooden plank. However, in the present application the plank is replaced by a pair of wooden members of L-shaped cross section held in spaced relation by brackets 35, as shown in FIGURE 9. The bars 23 and the clamping members 26 supported thereby are preferably also formed of wood. With this construction I have found it convenient to combine the bolt members 29 and 33 into a single unit pasing through the bar 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE of the drawrngs.

As an important feature of the present invention, the clamping devices 14 and 16 are adapted to engage the stretcher frame 22 in such manner as to avoid interference with the brush strokes of the artist. For this purpose the confronting edges 27 of the clamping members 26 are of V-shape and are proportioned and positioned to engage the stretcher frame 22 in spaced relation to the front surface 36 of the canvas. This permits the artist to extend his brush strokes past the edges of the canvas and hence does not interfere with his brush technique. Of course, painting past the upper and lower edges 19 and 21 of the stretcher frame may deposit paint on the clamping members 26, but this paint presents no problems and can easily be removed.

In accordance with the present invention the clamping devices 14 and 16 are normally secured perpendicular to the standard 11, but if desired the clamping devices may be tilted so as to allow the artist to orient his picture at any desired angle to the horizontal. This adjustment is made possible by the length of the clamping devices together with the structure of the locking means which cooperates with the broad front surface of the standard 11 to securely hold the clamping devices at any desired angle of inclination.

If desired, a shelf may be secured at any desired height to the standard 11 by a suitable locking device which is slidably engaged through the slot 13 as shown and described in greater detail in my co-pending application Serial No. 84,309 mentioned above. As mentioned therein, the shelf is used to support paint brushes, turpentine and paint containers and the like.

The standard 11 is preferably supported in the desired position by brace member 44 attached by means of a hinge pin 45 in bracket 46 which is fastened to the rear surface of the standard medially of its length. An arm 47 is pivoted at 48 to the standard and is formed with a slot 49 through which is engaged a bolt 50 having a thumbscrew 51 for locking the brace. In order to provide tilting at a desired angle relative to the standard 11, bolt 52 is fitted through slot 13 of standard 11 and the bracket fastened thereto within the slot to provide any desired tilt. In this way extreme positions including the forward tilt mentioned above are possible.

As a feature of my invention the easel will sit solidly on uneven surfaces and may be adjusted relative thereto to position the slot 13 in a vertical plane. This is accomplished by elongated foot members 53 and 54 for the standard 11 and brace 44, respectively, the foot members normally being perpendicular to the standard and brace but incorporating provisions for effecting independent tilting adjustment so that each foot member will be in firm contact with the surface upon which the easel is resting.

The desired tilting action of the foot members is obtained by pivoting them on bolts 56 projecting from the standard 11 and brace 44, respectively. Thumbscrews 57 are provided on the bolts for securing the members 53 and 54 in the desired positions. Bracket means 58 is also provided for rigidly securing the members 53 and 54 at the desired angles. As here shown, the bracket means 58 are formed of sheet metal bent to an L-shaped cross section and are secured by pins 59 to the members 53 and 54. The distal ends of the brackets are formed with elongated slots 61 through which bolts 62 project. Thumbscrews 63 may be backed off to permit relative adjustment of the brackets and may then be tightened down to hold the foot members rigidly in place.

As indicated above, the present invention provides extra support for holding large pieces of work. This support includes a first substantially horizontal member carried on the standard 11, which in the preferred form is the elongated foot member 53; a second substantially horizontal member 64 carried on the standard 11 at a position above said first horizontal member; and a pair of generally vertical members 66. These general-1y vertical members have front faces or surfaces 67; all of which lie in a common plane which includes the fiat front face 12 of standard 11. Thus it is seen that the stretcher frame 22 is supported by members 66 as well as standard 11 while being clamped into a rigidly fixed position by the confronting edges 27 of members 26. This support allows strong clamping forces to be applied without twisting the frame into a distorted position, and also allows consider able pressure to be brought to bear on the canvas while working thereon.

In order to provide strong support for horizontal member 64 on the standard 11, a bracket 68 is provided and the bracket and members are held together by bolts 69 and thumbscrews 71. Thumbscrews 72 are also provided on bolts 69 which are adapted to loosen or tighten the bolt algainst bracket 68. Adjustability of member 64 is obtained by means of slot 73 and a slot in bracket 68 (not shown) so as to provide horizontal positioning with respect to the standard 11. Vertical adjustability is obtained by sliding bolt 69 to the desired position and clamping on standard 11.

The substantially vertical members 66 are adjustably secured to horizontal member 64 at each end thereof by means of brackets 74, bolts 76 and associated thumbscrews 77 and 78, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Bolts 76 fit through slot 73 of horizontal member 64 and adjustment is achieved by movement in the slot. The bracket and members are held in place by tightening nuts 77 and once again nuts 78 may be used to tighten the bolt 76. The lower ends of the generally vertical members 66 are secured to foot member 53 by means of brackets 79. These brackets are held to the members 66 by means of bolts 81 and nuts 82 and are held to foot member 53 by means of bolts 83 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4. As mentioned above, the generally vertical members are adjustable and can be tilted both sideways and forward and backward. Accordingly, the term generally vertical member as used herein should be construed to include a reasonable deviation from the vertical.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention in which means are provided for supporting extraordinarily wide pieces of work. These means comprise a pair of extension assemblies 84; each assembly comaooaeee prising a generally upright member 86 having a front face 87 which lies in the same plane as front faces 67 of generally vertical members 66 and the front face 12 of upright standard 11.

In order to space the upright members 86 a distance away from the generally vertical members 66, a pair of horizontal extension members 88 and 89 are provided at the top and "bottom, respectively, on each side of the easel. Members 88 are secured to horizontal member 64 at each side thereof by means of bolts 91 and thumbscrews 92 with the square ends 93 of extension members 88 butting firmly against bracket 74, as shown in FIGURE 7. Upright members 86 are secured to horizontal extension members 88 by means of brackets 94. These brackets are secured to upright members 86 and adjustably secured through slots 96 of horizontal extension members 88 by means of bolts 97 and associated nuts 98 and 99. The

lower horizontal extension member 89 is secured to the elongated foot member 53 by means of bolts 83 and bracket 79 and secured to upright member 86 by means of bracket 101,bolt 102 and bolt 103, as best shown in FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 7, it is seen that the bolts 83 and 102 hold the lower horizontal extension member 89 by means of a clamping force against upright members 66 and 86 through brackets -1 and 79. This provides for adjustment of upright member 86 at various angles, and by adjusting member 86 in the slot 96 of the upper horizontal extension member as well, various positions are possible to provide support at the end of various sizes of stretcher frames. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the lower horizontal extension member and position the upright member 86-somewhat diagonally as shown in FIGURE 8.

In FIGURE 9, there is shown another embodiment of the invention, in which means are provided for supporting the easel in a forwardly tilted position and which also provides a more rigid base for the easel. These means comprise a pair of Outriggers 106 which are secured to the elongated foot members 53 and 54 with screws 107. Sloti 108 is provided in outrigger 106- and at least one opposing pair of screws 107 fit therethrough so as to provide adjustment for regulating the spacing between the foot members 53 and 54. As seen in FIGURE 1, sockets 109 are provided on each of the foot members for better fitting of screws 10'7.

The outriggers may be used in either the embodiment of FIGURE 1 or that of FIGURE 6. When used with the easel of FIGURE 1 the outriggcrs are simply screwed into place. However, when used with the embodiment of FIGURE 6, it is necessary to modify the attachment of horizontal extension member 89, and this may be accomplished as shown in FIGURE 10'. In this illustration,.a bolt and hot 111 is extended somewhat angularly through the outrigger 106 and through slot 104 ofv horizontal extension member 89. On tightening of the nut on the bolt, the end 112. of extension member 89 is tightly held against the outrigger 106.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a novel folding, portable artists easel adapted for firmly and solidly supporting a canvas-covered stretcher frame or the like of considerable size in any desired position and without interference with the painting being done on the surface of the canvas.

1 claim:

1. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standardhaving. a' fiat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member" carried on said upright standard at the lower end therof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending. between said" first and second horizontal members, saidipair of: generally vertical members having front faces substantially in 'a plane including the front face of the upright standard, "bracket means for adjustably securing said vertical members to said horizontal members, a pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face and said vertical members, said clamping devices being formed with confronting longitudinal V-shaped edges adapted for engaging the stretcher frame in spaced relation to the front surface of the canvas whereby the artist may extend his brush strokes past the edges of the canvas, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a member having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally Vertical members.

2. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal members, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, bracket means for adj-ustably securing said vertical members to said horizontal members, a pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face and said vertical members, said clamping devices being formed with confronting longitudinal V-shaped edges adapted for engaging the stretcher frame in spaced relation to the front surface of the canvas whereby the artist may extend his brush strokes past the edges of the canvas, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprisinga pair of horizontal extension members and generally upright members extending between said pair of horizontal members and having a front face in substantially the same plane as the front faces of said generally upright members.

3. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists c' anvtas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a fiat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal members, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, bracket means for adj-ustably securing said vertical members to said horizontal members, a'pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face and said vertical members, said clamping devices being formed withconfronting longitudinal V-shaped edges adapted for engaging the stretcher frame in spaced relation to the front surface of the canvas whereby the artist may extend his brush strokes past the edges of the canvas, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clampingengagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a horizontal extension member and a diagonally disposed member having a front face in substantially the same plane as said generally vertical members.

4. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal mem bers, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, a pair of elongated bars mounted on said standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face and said vertical members, each of said bars being of triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle providing a flat face in sliding contact with said front face, a first bolt means extending perpendicularly from said fiat face of each of said bars through said slot and formed to clamp said bars to said standard at desired positions therealong, elongated clamping members of L- shaped cross-section carried on said bars and having confronting edges adapted for clamping engagement with the stretcher frame upon movement of said clamping members toward each other, a second bolt means extending perpendicularly from the outer faces of said bars through said clamping members and formed for urging said clamping members toward each other, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a member having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members.

5. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices extending laterally across said front face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, an elongated foot member pivotally mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard, bracket means formed for securing said foot member at a desired angle to said standard whereby said slot may be oriented to lie in a vertical plane, a horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said foot member by an adjustable bracket, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said horizontal member and said foot member by means of adjustable brackets, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a member having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members.

6. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices extending laterally across said front face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, an elongated foot member pivotally mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard, bracket means formed for securing said foot member at a desired angle to said standard whereby said slot may be oriented to lie in a vertical plane, a horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said foot member by an adjustable bracket, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said horizontal member and said foot member by means of adjustable brackets, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a pair of horizontal extension members and generally upright members extending between said pair of horizontal members and having a front face in substantially the same plane as the front faces of said generally upright members.

7. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices exending laterally across said front face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, an elongated foot member pivotally mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard, bracket means formed for securing said foot member at a desired angle to said standard whereby said slot may be oriented to lie in a vertical plane, a horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said foot member by an adjustable bracket, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said horizontal member and said foot member by means of adjustable brackets, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a horizontal extension member and a diagonally disposed member having a front face in substantially the same plane as said generally vertical members.

8. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices extending laterally across said front face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, said locking means being formed to provide tilting adjustment of said clamping devices, an elongated foot member pivotally mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard, bracket means formed for securing said foot member at a desired angle to said standard, the tilting adjustments of said clamping devices and said foot member cooperating to permit a desired orientation of the stretcher frame relative to the horizon even though said easel is standing on a non-horizontal surface, a horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said foot member by an adjustable bracket, and a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said horizontal member and said foot member by means of adjustable brackets, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard.

9. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal members, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, a brace member hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard, means for fastening said brace member at a desired angle relative to said standard, a pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face of the standard and said vertical members, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the 9 stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a member having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members.

10. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a fiat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, a first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof, a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal members, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, a brace member hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard, means for fastening said brace member at a desired angle relative to said standard, a pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally acrosssaid front face of the standard and said vertical members, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamp ing engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a pair of horizontal extension members and generally upright members extending between said pair of horizontal members and having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members.

11. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending slot, at first substantially horizontal member carried on said upright standard at the lower end thereof,

a second substantially horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said first horizontal member, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said first and second horizontal members, said pair of generally vertical members having fnont faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, a brace member hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard means, for fastening said brace member at a desired angle relative to said standard, a pair of elongated clamping devices fitting on the standard at positions located between said horizontal members and extending laterally across said front face of the standard and said vertical members, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, and a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a horizontal extension member and a diagonally disposed member having a front face substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members.

12. An easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas or the like, comprising a generally upright standard having a flat front face formed with a vertically extending central slot, a brace member hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard medially of its length, an arm pivoted to said standard and having a slot formed therein, -a bolt secured to said brace member slidably engaged in the slot in said arm, said bolt having a manually engageable nut for fastening the brace member at a desired angle relative to said standard, a pair of elongated bars mounted on said standard and extending laterally across said front face, each of said bars being of triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle providing a flat face in sliding contact with said front face of the standard, a first bolt means extending perpendicularly from said fiat face of each of said bars through the slot in said standard and formed to clamp said bars to said standard at desired positions therealong, elongated clamping members of L-shaped cross-section carried on said bars and having confronting edges adapted for clamping engagement with the stretcher frame upon movement of said clamping members toward each other, a second bolt means extending perpendicularly from the outer faces of said bars through said clamping members and formed for urging said clamping members toward each other, the confronting edges of said clamping members being of V-shape so as to present a sharpened edge adapted for engaging the stretcher frame in spaced relation to the front surface of the canvas whereby the artist may extend his brush strokes past the edges of the painting surface, elongated foot member pivotally mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace member, a horizontal member carried by said upright standard above said foot member by an adjustable bracket, a pair of generally vertical members carried on and extending between said horizontal member and said foot member, by means of adjustable brackets, said pair of generally vertical members having front faces substantially in a plane including the front face of the upright standard, bracket means formed for securing said foot member at desired angles relative to said standard and brace member whereby said easel may be supported solidly on an uneven surface, a pair of extension assemblies adapted to fit each side of the easel each comprising a member having front faces substantially in the plane of the front faces of the generally vertical members, a pair of base members extending between the lower part of said brace member and said elongated foot member and extending in front of the foot member whereby support is given when the easel is tilted forward to such an extent that the top of the Work is held in front of the bottom of the work, and said brace member having -a horizontal base member pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,526 Howard Jan. 22, 1901 1,191,424 Hollinger July 18, 1916 2,032,872 Friedrichs Mar. 3, 1936 2,664,258 Lanier Dec. 29, 1953 2,912,203 Townsend Nov. 10, 1956 2,969,607 Grurnbaoher Jan. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,578 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1907 

1. AN EASEL FOR SUPPORTING THE STRETCHER FRAME ON AN ARTIST''S CANVAS OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A GENERALLY UPRIGHT STANDARD HAVING A FLAT FRONT FACE FORMED WITH A VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT, A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL MEMBER CARRIED ON SAID UPRIGHT STANDARD AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, A SECOND SUBSTANTAILLY HORIZONTAL MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID UPRIGHT STANDARD ABOVE SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL MEMBER, A PAIR OF GENERALLY VERTICAL MEMBERS CARRIED ON AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HORIZONTAL MEMBERS, SAID PAIR OF GENERALLY VERTICAL MEMBERS HAVING FRONT FACES SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE INCLUDING THE FRONT FACE OF THE UPRIGHT STANDARD, BRACKET MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS TO SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBERS, A PAIR OF ELONGATED CLAMPING DEVICES FITTING ON THE STANDARD AT POSITIONS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBERS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS SAID FRONT FACE AND SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS, SAID CLAMPING DEVICES BEING FORMED WITH CONFRONTING LONGITUDINAL V-SHAPED EDGES ADAPTED FOR ENGAGING THE STRETCHER FRAME IN SPACED RELATION TO THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE CANVAS WHEREBY THE ARTIST MAY EXTEND HIS BRUSH STROKES PAST THE EDGES OF THE CANVAS, LOCKING MEANS ON SAID DEVICES ENGAGING SAID SLOT AND FORMED FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING SAID DEVICES TO SAID 